For one thing, he is tall - especially for an actor (I live in Manhattan, so have politely ignored many actors over the years - and they tend to be pint-sized, with perfect skin). For another, his presence is so vital that when he was on stage I couldn’t look at another actor, even when Strong was just standing still…

Yep, I was pleased with the way they handled Merlin. I was lucky enough to see Mark Strong on stage recently and WHOA.

Frequently. But I’m sorry, Alan Rickman was The Boss in “Love, Actually."

Right there with you. OMG, it’s so embarrassing.

Get in line!

Oh, thank heavens. Mark Strong could have pulled off the Sole Senior Agent thing, but this movie really needed Mr. Firth.

I wish I had cable I wish I had cable I wish I had cable ...

Not really. I live in NYC. We have police precincts here, which cover specific neighborhoods. A Manhattan cop from Hell’s Kitchen wouldn’t show up to make an arrest up near Columbia University, much less another borough. Unless Daredevil somehow phoned and asked him to come - and even then ...

Darwin Award waiting to happen!

I know! New York is hella crowded with incidents, it’s a wonder the city is still standing.

I’m hoping they give us a lot more Mark Strong (Merlin). Dude could carry a film by himself. While presumably we’re going to have a lot of Eggsy as well, I’d love to see equal time for Roxy.

Colin Firth’s absence is going to be hard to deal with, unless they can dial Mark Strong up to 11. (I just saw him on Broadway and DAMN can he act. So it could work.)

Alice is my favorite but I also like the (admittedly less creepy) Mulan art at Heather Theurer’s website.

SCARY PENGUINS!!

LOL. Here’s Lovecraft in Brooklyn, 1925. He doesn’t looked psyched to be there, does he?

(Image by Murray Groat)

Oh, brilliant! I’m also fond of Patrick Dean’s Underwhelming Lovecraft Comic Synopses (which, come to think of it, I may have first encountered here).

I’ve wondered about the Netflix thing as well

Oh, man, I was trying not to even hope. Not certain exactly why I love this show so much ... OK, the cast, the ridiculous and yet totally engaging stories, the look (so different from other Marvel show and movies), the costumes. And again the cast. Hayley Atwell = goddess.